Everyday Spirituality

Church leader’s interpretation needs rounding out

A statement from leaders of First Church of Christ, Scientist, has been brought to my attention. Their statement, found in the 2014 July edition of the Christian Science Journal, answers the question: “Should Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures be changed to keep up with the times?”

The Q&A appears to be one-sided. Therefore, I would like to offer another viewpoint to round out the facts.

I would also like to defend Mary Baker Eddy’s individuality. In their answer, the church leaders immodestly speak on behalf of Mary Baker Eddy and I feel this violates the Golden Rule and presents to readers a false model.

Mary Baker Eddy authored the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures in the 19th century, to explain what she termed Christian Science, a.k.a. divine Science, the Science of Christ, spiritual Science, or Christ Science. She revised her book hundreds of times until her death in 1910. Mary Baker Eddy’s published book can’t be changed, but it can be updated and published as a revision with the new author/authors name/names.

For the last one hundred years, people have been interpreting Mary Baker Eddy’s writings. Every conversation, every lecture, every article or testimony, every answer, encompassing the subjects of Science and Health and Christian Science involves interpretation. Thinkers, practitioners, teachers, and lecturers, and church leaders, repeat in their own words, what they interpret in Eddy’s writings.

I myself interpret Eddy’s writings, literally and spiritually. The spiritual interpretation guides us away from material conservatism and dogma. The spiritual interpretation inspires the clearest literal interpretation, whether read or written. The spiritual interpretation frees us from the expression that Mary Baker Eddy was perfect. Eddy made mistakes and more importantly, she corrected them.

The spiritual content of Science and Health remains intact and it can be expressed in words useful to today’s times.

On another note: oftentimes Mary Baker Eddy is quoted, a habit that fragments Science and Health.

Therefore, to express the usefulness and completeness of Science and Health, I’ve published the book 21st Century Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, now in its 5th edition. And, the work continues as we strive to do the best we can.

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by T S Eliot
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Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn
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For right reasoning, the two accounts ca